Over the past couple of months I have been clearing out and sorting the nearly 700 cookbooks on our shelves in the city and the beach, and realized I had a few duplicates. Some were gifts that I already had, others were hand-me-downs sent in balikbayan boxes that proved to be duplicates of stuff on the shelves, or in some cases, I probably bought some at Booksale (my favorite discount book and magazine shop) absentmindedly. At any rate, I have given several away to friends and family, but saved a few choice ones for this marketmanila “raffle”.

Included in this goody package are a NEW copy of “Odd Bits” by Jennifer McLagan which goes through recipes for the less commonly used parts of the animal like pig’s head, veal cheeks, tongue, eyeballs, tripe, liver, feet, tail and of course, testicles. I really like this book, and have referred to my other copy often. The second cookbook in the pile is a NEW copy of Charles Phan’s “Vietnamese Home Cooking”. The Chef-Owner of the restaurant The Slanted Door, it is an approachable and delicious approach to relatively easy Vietnamese cooking. My other copy is likewise used often. Both books retail for $35 and are still very much on bookstore shelves these days. I also throw in 5 duplicate copies of SAVEUR magazine (the duplicates I found from over 800 magazines on the groaning shelves — yup I prefer material to digital) for a “prize package” worth some PHP3,000 retail. And you can have it for free.

Here’s how. In the search function of this website, type in “chocolate” and several posts should appear. Check the bottom of those posts for clues numbered from 1 to x. Add all those clues together and you will know what to do next. I will pick the winner randomly from the entries received. The books can be picked up from our branches in Cebu, or a location in Makati or I can alternatively LBC (courier) the books to anywhere in the Philippines that LBC delivers. Readers from outside the country are welcome to join, but the books have to be sent to a valid and accessible Philippine address. Thank you and good luck!

I will announce the winners of the molave wooden board, books and market basket all together in a few days. Thanks!